1. Ngo Dinh Diem and American Imperialism
Daniel Tu
University of Tulsa
March 18, 2005
Fifth Triennial Vietnam Symposium
Lubbock, Texas

2. Empire
Rome
Usually has connotations of evil
Indispensable

3. The definition of empire
A large, composite, multi-ethnic or multinational political unit, usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate, sometimes far distant peripheries. Imperialism is used to mean the actions and attitudes which create or uphold such big political units—but also less obvious and direct kinds of control or domination by one people or country over others.[1] [1] Stephen Howe, Empire: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002), p.30.

4. American imperialism
Informal
Military and economic might
Democracy

5. Cold War
Cold war seen as an imperial clash between the Soviet Union and the United States

6. Vietnam Matter of independence rather than fight over Communism
The French Indochina War

7. Diem
Hope
Defender of freedom

8. 1956 Elections Stipulation of the Treaty of Geneva of 1954
Blocked because of bias

9. Three years of peace
Working progress

10. 1959
Agitation in the villages

11. 1960 Coup of 1960 Young military officers
America does not give its support

12. 1961
Kennedy transition

13. 1962
Need for commitment
Situation in Laos

14. 1963
Turbulent times
Assassination

15. 1964
Question of succession

16. 1965
Johnson transition
Introduction of troops

17. Johnson
Removal of Diem affected Johnson

18. Conclusion
Diem was a product of his time
Consequences